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The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway of bone and ligament in your wrist. The nerve that controls sensation in your fingers
and some muscles in the hand passes through this tunnel along with some of the finger tendons. Repeated motion or use of the
hand or wrist may cause the tendons to become inflamed and press the nerve against the bone. Pressure on the nerve causes
pain and numbness in the hand and fingers. This is known as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
The symptoms of CTS include:
- Numbness or tingling in one or both hands that involved all but the little finger.
- Wrist pain that may affect
your fingers and radiate up your arm.
- Hand or wrist pain that is often greater at night and early morning.
Carpal
tunnel syndrome can be caused by anything that causes swelling against the nerve; for example, a cyst on the tendon or rheumatoid
arthritis. Most often, CTS is caused by inflammation due to overuse of the tendons from repetitive finger and hand movements
in a bent-wrist position. Colorguard can turn into the breeding ground for CTS, although you cannot "catch it" from
someone else. Pregnancy, diabetes, underactive thyroid, and birth control pills increase the risk of CTS.
PREVENTION
- Avoid repetitive hand motions with a bent wrist.
- Take frequent breaks (5 minutes each hour) from repetitive
hand motions. Stretch your fingers and thumb and change your grip often.
- Maintain good posture. Avoid rounding your
shoulders or slouching.
TREATMENT
- Don't ignore wrist pain. If possible, stop the activity that triggered
the problem. If the symptoms decrease, resume the activity gradually with a greater effort to keep the wrist straight.
- If you cannot stop the activity, try to change the way you do it so that your wrist is not stressed.
- Gently warm
up your hands before starting work. Do some wrist circles and stretch your fingers and wrists. Repeat every hour.
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Apply ice or a cold pack to the palm side of the wrist.
- A wrist splint that keeps your wrist straight or slightly
extended (no more than 15 degrees) may help relieve pain. You can buy a splint in some pharmacies, stores, and in hospital
supply stores.
- Begin arm and upper body strengthening exercises.
WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR
- If the pain
or numbness is severe and is not relieved by rest, changing positions, ice, or a normal dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen
(Tylenol).
- If your hand grip becomes weak.
- If minor symptoms do not improve after one month of prevention
and home treatment.
- If any numbness remains after one month of home treatment. Long-term numbness can lead to PERMANENT
loss of some hand function.
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